George Morris Clinic Headlines Historic Convention

Heath, OH, November 24, 2014 --(PR.com)-- “These Trakehners, they’re the real deal.” So said legendary horseman George Morris during his three-day jumping clinic in Cincinnati last month. The clinic was sponsored by the American Trakehner Association as part of its annual convention.

Morris headlined the event, with both Trakehners and other breeds participating in three, two-hour sessions each day. The clinic was open to riders and auditors who were not members of the ATA, as was the popular “Jumper Calcutta,” won by Canadian Olympic eventer Jessica Phoenix, after a jump-off against a young local rider from the clinic to break their tie.

In addition, history was made during this 40th anniversary meeting, when a woman was elected president of the association for the first time. Dr. Rebecca Armstrong of Castro Valley, Calif. was selected by the members to lead the ATA for the two-year term of office. She is a veterinarian and Ph.D. who has been at the University of California, Berkley since 2004 and is the Director, Research Subject Protection. Prior to her tenure at UCB, she was Assistant Vice Provost for Research at Purdue University.

Armstrong is also a distinguished graduate of the United States Dressage Federation "L" Dressage Judge Program and has been a small breeder as well as an amateur competitor in dressage, eventing, hunters and breed classes, recently qualifying for the USDF Silver Medal on her homebred Trakehner. She bred and presented the first mare accepted into the ATA’s Preliminary Stud Book and was lead veterinarian for embryo-transfer foals born under the ATA's original ET pilot program. She has been an active ATA member for 30 years and has owned Trakehners the entire time.

“In 1982,” Armstrong said, “John Krenger donated a stud service for the Trakehner stallion Amiego to the Illinois Hooved Animal Humane Society, and they advertised all the stallions that had made donations. I was riding an Anglo-Arab mare in the “B” Hunter circuit and wanted a more competitive horse, so I was considering breeding her to a Thoroughbred. The ad about the stallions in the auction had a background article about the history of the Trakehner breed, the World War II trek, the infusion of Arabian and Thoroughbred blood in the breed, and I was intrigued. Then I visited John and he let me ride Amiego! I don’t think I’d ridden around the ring once and I was totally smitten with the temperament, rideability and gaits of that extraordinary creature. I was hooked—and the rest is history,” she laughed.

“A small group of dedicated founders joined together to ensure the Trakehner breed in North America was preserved and promoted,” Armstrong said.” We were honored to have several of them and other long-term members present at this meeting. I want continue their good work and help the ATA remain a strong and growing organization for the next 40 years!”